Fuel prices have to be increased once again – Udaya Gammanpila
Udaya Gammanpila, Minister of Energy states that a situation has arisen where fuel prices have to be increased once again. He said that the last increase in fuel prices in Sri Lanka was based on world market prices in May and since then there has been a 24% increase in fuel prices in the world market. He says that by not increasing fuel prices, those costs will be borne by the people who do not use vehicles and it is an injustice to them. He also said that the fuel price should be increased if the Treasury does not provide relief when the world market price goes up, but he has not yet decided to increase the price. He said this while he was speaking to the media after a function in Hanwella.
Chinese government will continue to provide relief to the people of the North – Chinese Ambassador
Chinese Ambassador Sri Lanka Xi Sen Hong said that the Chinese government will continue to provide relief to the people of the North. He said was speaking to the media during a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka on the 16th by a delegation including the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka who visited the Mannar and Jaffna districts in the Northern Province. The Chinese Ambassador visited the Mannar District Fisheries Cooperative Society office first. Nearly 20 million rupees worth of fishing gear was donated to fishing families in Mannar. Later the Chinese Ambassador went to Jaffna and first attended a service at the Nallur Hindu Temple in Jaffna. Subsequently, fishing gear worth nearly Rs. 20 million was distributed at the Jaffna District Fisheries Association office and to the fishing community in Jaffna. The Chinese Ambassador said while he was speaking to the media. “Sri Lanka and China have a long-standing relationship and this is a step in the right direction. During the recent outbreak of the Covid virus around the world, the Chinese Government has focused on the vaccination and response of the Government of Sri Lanka, especially on the vaccination of people in the North and East.” Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Xi Sen Hong further stated that the Chinese Government will take steps to provide more relief in the future for the arts initiated by the Chinese Government in the North as a first step. Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda was also present at the occasion.
Sri Lanka has been downgraded from CC to CCC by Fitch Ratings
Sri Lanka has been further downgraded by Fitch Ratings, an international financial rating agency. According to their latest rankings, Sri Lanka has downgraded CC to CCC. They emphasize the declining foreign exchange reserves due to high foreign debt payments and limited cash inflows due to the deteriorating external liquidity situation in Sri Lanka and say there is a high probability of default in the coming months. The report also said that the severity of the financial crisis was reflected in rising government bond yields and depreciating currency.
The government will unable to import fuel for next month
A situation has arisen where it is not possible to obtain the required amount of US $ 420 million to import fuel for the coming month. As a result, the Petroleum Corporation is facing a severe crisis. It is reported that the Minister of Energy has requested the last Cabinet to provide this amount but it has not been resolved yet. The Minister has said that the CPC can earn rupees but not dollars and pointed out that the import of fuel is in a serious crisis due to this situation.
Sri Pada pilgrimage season for 2021-2022 commenced
Sumana Saman Deva statue and relics were brought to the Sri Padasthana (17) from the Galpottawela Raja Maha Viharaya in Pelmadulla to commence the 2021-2022 Sri Pada pilgrimage season. The procession started from the Galpottawela Raja Viharaya in Pelmadulla at around 5.00 am and proceeded along the Balangoda Bogawanthalawa to Nallathanniya. The procession passed through the town of Balangoda at noon. Two other processions also marched along the Ratnapura-Avissawella-Kurawita Erathna road. After placing the statue of Sumana Saman Deva and the relics in the Sri Pada Padma, the Sri Pada pilgrimage season will commence from Uduwap Poya on the 18th.
The court has issued a restraining order suspending a ceremony to tribute to the daughter of a LTTE cadre who done a suicide bombing at the Temple of the Tooth
The court has issued a restraining order suspending a prepared ceremony to tribute to the daughter of a LTTE cadre who is currently on death row after a suicide bombing at the Temple of the Tooth The event was organized in the Kandy area and the Kandy Police obtained the restraining order through a court order. It is reported that the ceremony was organized by a human rights organization run by another religious organization in the Kandy area at a hotel in the Kandy area next month.
Another stock of fertilizer from a Chinese company that has been rejected?
Udith Jayasinghe has told the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture that the stock of fertilizer requested by Sri Lanka from China’s Qinda O Biotech Company should be handed over to Sri Lanka. He said that the Chinese company was bound by the agreement and if the product was not delivered, it would have to refund the money given by Sri Lanka. He said this while he was speaking to the media after a ceremony. The Sri Lankan government rejected a fertilizer ship imported by these companies due to the presence of harmful bacteria and subsequently paid $ 6.7 million for it.
Armed groups uprising in the North .. India and RAW intelligence behind this
The Jaffna Civil Society Center says that there is a danger of another armed uprising in the Northern Province. Its chairman, Arun Siddharthan, said there were already armed groups in the north. He also said that India and RAW intelligence were behind those groups. He made these comments in an interview on a youtube channel.
Kerosene stoves are sold at a high price
With the explosion of gas stoves, the price of kerosene stoves in Hatton and surrounding areas has risen sharply. With the explosion of gas stoves in the country, many people have switched from gas stoves to wood and kerosene stoves, and more and more people are turning to kerosene stoves. Many people say that the kerosene stoves have gone up sharply in Hatton and several surrounding areas as more and more people are turning to kerosene lipstick. They say that kerosene lip gas, which was sold at a price of between Rs. 2200 and 3500, is now being sold at a high price of between Rs. 7000 and 9000 with the explosion of lipstick. When inquired about this, several traders who sell kerosene stoves said that this situation has arisen with the explosion of gas stoves and the increase in the price of kerosene stoves by the sellers.
A motorcyclist drags a police officer along the Pettah road
A traffic police officer has arrested a suspect for hanging and dragging himself on a motorcycle. The incident had taken place at a police officer who was on duty at Pannaradhana Street, Pettah. When inquired about a motorbike which was parked in a place where it could not be parked, the owner of it had tried to start the escape and run away. The police officer had hanged his motorbike and had tried to flee by dragging himself along the road with the police officer. But after about seventy meters, the motorcycle collided with another three-wheeler and overturned. The police officer was seriously injured in the incident and further action is being taken against the arrested suspect.